Alcalá View 1997 14.4

Christmas in the Park C atch the holiday spirit and enj oy these seasonal events happening around Alcala Park. President's Christmas Celebration Pres ident Alice B. Hayes invites all faculty, staff and administrators to a holi- day gathering at 2 p.m., Dec. 8, in the Hahn University Center Forum. The fest ivities will include light refreshments and a program of holiday music per- fo rmed by the Choral Scholars. A highlight of the afternoon will fea- ture a surprise gues t soloist who will join the choir during the program. The tradition of lighting the tree in front of Maher Hall will continue at the end of the program, when guests are invited to join Hayes for the short walk to the tree. Family and fri ends are welcome. SEA Holiday Reception Santa will be joining the festivities this year at the Staff Employees Assoc iat ion's annual holiday open house, scheduled fo r 11 :30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dec. 11, in the Serra Hall faculty/staff lounge. Guests are inv ited to bring donations fo r Auntie Helen's Laundry Service, a charity that works with peop le with AIDS. Needed items include towels, shee ts, blankets, clothing, paper towels, soap, cleaning supplies, 33 gallon trash bags , wheelchairs, canes, walkers and money. Auntie Helen's also runs a thrift shop to help support the laundry service and wi ll accept any resalable item fo r the store. Refreshments will be served at the party. For more info rmation, call Yolanda Castro at ext. 4520. Dine and Donate The fo lks at A romas, the deli, the bakery and Traditions are spreading holiday cheer with a spec ial promot ion Dec. 8 through 12.

Commuter's Corner

So, you've been reading this column for the last few months, thinking you should start taking alternative trans- portation to work, or perhaps you already do but have sug- gestions for ways the univer- sity can better support train, bus, trolley, bike and carpool commuters. There's a new group on campus you should join. The Fresh Ai r Commuter's Club meets at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 10, in UC220. The university- wide parking committee is still hammering out details on funding issues and the Fresh Air Club hopes to provide valuable input on behalf of alternative commuters. For more information , call Greg Zackowski at ext. 4796 or Jill Wagner at ext. 2551 . E-mail questions to jwag- ner@acusd.edu. University Ministry Events Twilight Retreat, 5 p.m., Dec. 1, in Founders faculty lounge. For more information , call Sister Irene Cullen at ext. 2265. Reconciliation Service, 7 p.m. , Dec. 15, in The lmmaculata Church . St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, 11 :10 a.m. to 1 p.m. , every Tuesday and Thursday. Bible Study, 12:10 to 12:50 p.m., every Tuesday. For more information , call Father Vince Walsh at ext. 6818. Mama'sKitchen, every Wednesday. Contact Brother Tom Thing at ext. 4897 for more information. (Continued on page three)

Each Christmas the SEA collects food, toys, cleaning su/;J;lies, clothing and other needed items for a different charity. This year, gifts from the campus community will go to Auntie Helen's Laundry Service. At each location, specialty items such as coffee drinks, holiday cookies and a gourmet sandwich will be featured for the week. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to C hristian Social Concern, a local charity that works with AIDS patients. Advent Mass A special advent Mass will be held at 8 p. m., Dec. 7, in the Hahn Unive rsity Center Forum. Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass A Mass in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe wi ll be held at 5 p.m., Dec. 11, in Founders Chapel. Gift Fair Start your shopping early at the A lternative Gift Fair, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 4, in front of the Hahn University Center. Crafts made by people in develop- ing nations and from local nonprofit agen- cies will be on sa le throughout the day. A ll proceeds are returned to the individual artists and programs.

Service with a Smile By Jill Wagner A sign just inside the door of the under- graduate advising office in O lin Hall warns visitors: "Caution, Crisis in Progress. " Julie Ellenburg, administrative ass istant, sits at the desk wedged behind the sign. Tucked in a ground floor com er of the Schoo l of Business Administration building, the office certainly has the look of po tential chaos. Piles of boxes res t in front of a half- dozen filing cabinets. A typewriter, laser printer and computer compete fo r table space. Stacks of fo lders await Ellenburg's attent ion, while the ringing phone demands immediate response. Signs pos ted with urgent info rmation along a small countertop invite students to enter and ask questions, make appointments and seek advice about class schedu les. The stream of students is steady. The appo in t- ment book is always open , ready for another time slot to be filled. Desp ite the traffic, the sign and the small quarters, there is a great deal of order in Ellenburg's office. She is the first person stu- dents see when seeking an appointment with Jane Usatin , director of undergraduate programs and adv iser to every undergradu- ate business student, and Ellenburg makes sure their reques ts are handled without delay. N ine times out of 10, Ellenburg greets students who wa lk through the door by first name. "It makes them happy when they come in here and we know them," Ellenburg says. "It makes them fee l at home and have the sense that someone cares." Usatin saw something spec ial in Ellen - burg soon after the administrative ass istant joined the staff in 1994. T h is year, Usat in nominated her ass istan t fo r the h ighes t honor bestowed on staff employees, and Ellenburg was recognized as a fi nalist for the 1997 Emp loyee of the Year award. "She is so lely responsible fo r the efficient and accurate fu nctioning of this office , wh ich handles h undreds of studen ts each week," Usat in says. "And each one Julie hand les with a warmth and efficiency that lets studen ts know they' re we lcome here and that we' ll handle their questions and set their minds at ease." Ellenburg, a native of the Ph ill ippines, has always been interested in education.

Benefits Brief Open Enrollment: In order to complete open enrollment, employees must sign, date and return their 1998 open enrollment confirmation form to human resources on or before Dec. 12, 1997. If an employee waives USD medical coverage, he or she must complete the decli- nation statement, which is included with the confirma- tion form. Please list ALL covered family members on the declination statement and their social security numbers. Declination statements are also due in human resources on or before Dec. 12. Open enrollment will not be complete until human resources has received the signed confirmation form. Tuition Remission: Part-time students should have applied for tuition remission in Sep- tember 1997. If not, applica- tions must be received by human resources 1 O days before the first day of class. Full-time students who are applying for acceptance in fall 1998 and who qualify for financial aid must apply for aid on or before the February and March financial aid deadlines. These deadlines also apply to students who have not yet been accepted to USD. Further information about financial aid require- ments and deadlines will be sent through campus mail in late January. Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement: Because of the holiday schedule in December, health and dependent care reimburse- ment claim forms must be received by human resources on or before Dec. 10, 1997, in order to meet the deadline for both bi-weekly and end- of-month payrolls. - Vicki Coscia

Julie Ellenburg and her husband, Michael, love s/)ending time with their son , Nicholas . She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and later took several educa- tion and English courses to earn a teach ing cert ificate. Before immigrating to San Diego, Ellenburg and her th ree ch ildren lived fo r 12 years in Canada, where she worked at the Nova Scotia CAD/CAM Center at the Technical Un iversity of Nova Scotia. At home, Ellenburg, who met her second husband after moving to Southern Calif- orn ia in 1989, enjoys being a mom to her fo urth child, 3-year-o ld N icholas, and a grandmother to two young grandaugh ters. She's proud to show pictu res of her family, at the same time sharing dreams fo r their fut ure. Her own part of the dream includes earn- ing a mas ter's degree in counseling and trav- el ing to unexplored lands. There's little doubt the hard -working, cheerful wife, mom and office manage r will make those dreams happen .

Together They've Worked 770 years Summer at USO marks the time to cele- brate those employees who have worked five years at Alcala Park. November is the

Ministry (Continued from page one) Sunday Masses at Founders Chapel, 7 and 9 p.m. Daily Masses at Founders Chapel, 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday; 12:10 p.m., Monday through Friday; 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. New Hires and Promotions Welcome to the following employees who recently joined the USO community: Paul Aden, mail center; Rigoberto Chavez, public safety; Jennifer Dominelli, athletics; Wilhelmina Pad• iernos, public safety; Holly Schwartz, law school publica- tions; and Judy Stokes, sum- mer camps. Congratulations to the fol- lowing employee who was recently promoted or reclassi- fied: Sheri Barzal, cashier. Passages Deaths Sister Agnes Schmit, profes- sor emerita in the Department of Chemistry, on Oct. 3. Benjamin Franklin Betts, son of Mary Rose Johnson, director of summer camps, on Oct. 20. Anthony Vitrano, father of Josie Vella, administrative assistant in the Institute for Christian Ministries, on Nov. 6. Classifieds For Sale. Macintosh upgraded llci computer. Includes full-page, black and white Radius monitor; 580 MB/32 RAM; OMS PS410 laser printer (4 RAM), 300 dpi, cross-formatted to work with PC and Mac separately or simultaneously; extended keyboard. $500. Call Lynn Karpinski at ext. 4684. For Sale. Trek 600 hybrid mountain bike. Small frame with rear rack. Like new. $80. Call Lynn Karpinski at ext. 4684. (Continued on page tour)

Armand,o Medina-Castandeda, U.C. opera- tions; Terri Miller, faci lities management; Adriana Moran, Copley Library; Maria Nyffenegger, main dining; Ann Pantano, English; Lloyd Parks, facilities manage- ment; Susan Pillsbury, human resources; Roger Raymond, public safety; Kelly Riseley, finance and accounting; Janet Rodgers , Philip Y. Hahn School of Nursing; Sara Romo, faci lities management; Ana Schafer, bookstore; Reuel Shivers, registrar; Kathy VanHoe, human resources; Bob Van Tan, main dining; Cynthia Villis, provost's office; Arlene Weeks, public safety; Dorothy Wildman, registrar; and Stanley Yiu, print shop. Employees celebrating 15 years of service were: Ludmila Berengolts , legal research center; Marge Costanzo, bursar; Socorro Ellis, faci lities management; Diana Githens, School of Law; Sheryl Lorey- McAtee, donor relations; Conley Robinson , faci lities management; Rudy Spano, dining serv ices; and Charles Teplitz, School of Business Administration. Twenty-year honorees were: Pat Helm, mail center; Penny Navarro , continuing (Continued on page four) The committee argues that summer school tu ition is an important benefit for employees, whose schedules often make it easier to attend classes when the campus is not in full swing, Gilbert said. Eligibility for tuition remission would increase from one year after being hired to two years for employees and three years for dependents. If approved, the new waiting period would apply to facu lty, staff and administrators hired after Sept. 1, 1998. T he extens ion is a way to encourage longevity from emp loyees and reduce the costs of training and recruitment incurred when emp loyees resign soon after earning a degree paid for by the university, Gilbert said. Committee members also cons idered extending tuition remission to part-time emp loyees, but determined the costs would be prohibitive.

month that fac ulty, staff and administrators with 10 or more years of service are honored at a luncheon. The fifth annual Service Awards Cele- bration featured a lunch prepared by ban- quets and catering, entertainment by the Choral Scholars and recognition of 58 long- time employees. Ten-year honorees were: Cheance Adair, mail center; Leo Baker, academic comput- ing; Ariete Balelo, faci lities management; Patrick Boyce, telecommunications; CC Costanzo, financial aid; Nancy Carter, lega l research center; Peggy Clark-Hun- kins, School of Business Administration; Pat Comeau, banquets and catering; Antonio De Sousa, dining serv ices; John Frazer, media services; Larry Gardepie, business process redesign; Barbara Hughes, public safety; Joan Kearns, Alcala Vista housing; Theodora Kostka, School of Education; Chris La'O, pub lic safety; Pat Lee, development; Maria Luis, facilities management; Janet Madden , School of Law; John McNamara, university relations; remission policy is in the hands of President Alice B. Hayes fo llowing an exhaustive review of the program by the university- wide benefits committee. The committee is asking for additional money to cover summer school tuition and proposes extending the eli- at its November meeting. Gilbert, secretary in Copley Library, is the staff representative on the benefits committee. Summer schoo l tuition remission for employees, their spouses or dependents has not been offered the last two years because of shortfalls in the $1. 1 million budget - the money was used to pay for the fall and spring semesters, leaving none for summer sessions. The proposal recommends setting aside additional monies for summer school, separate from the current tuition remission budget. gib ility requirement, Becky Gilbert told the Staff Employees Association

Committee Proposes Changes to Tuition Policy A proposal for changes to the tuition

Process Redesign Projects: New an� Old One in an occasional series on business process redesign

Classifieds (Continued from page three)

software in early 1998. Options will be pre­ sented to the president and vice presidents, with the hope an inventory system will be implemented in 1998. Also, the new year will see the student loans billing process updated when new soft­ ware goes online. Personnel in student loans will be able to provide up-to-date informa­ tion to our students. As employees from different departments work on these projects, a new understanding of the complexity and interrelatedness of the departments becomes more apparent. Questions regarding any of these projects can be directed to Gardepie at ext. 4822. education; Virginia Shue, School of Law; Susan Sullivan, paralegal program; Therese Thiessen, dining services; and Dorothy Thomas, telecommunications. Employees on campus since the College for Men and College for Women merged in 1972 were honored at the luncheon and the Nov. 12 Founders Day Mass. They are: Guadalupe Cardenas, main dining; Tom Cosgrove, student affairs; Bea Elmore, facil­ ities management; Father Paul Donovan, university ministry; Jack Pope, academic computing; and Manuel Rivera, facilities management. Honorees (Continued from page three)

For Rent. 3-bedroom, 2- bath Clairemont home. 2-car garage, fenced yard on canyon. $1,350/month. Call after 5 p.m.; CC Costanzo, 294-4999. Psst... Bits and Pieces from the Readers 'Tis the season to send See's candy, and the store on Rosecrans is the place to buy it. Turns out, USD employees are entitled to a discount all year around by simply show­ ing your USD I.D. ... Speaking of deals. The Linda Vista grapevine is abuzz with a story involving USD's Jack Cannon and a load of shrimp. Seems that during a recent visit to the Linda Vista Farmer's Market, Cannon ran across a deal on the shellfish too good to pass up. Looks like he'll be need­ ing the Bubba Gump cook­ book and we should be checking out the market. It's every Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m., in the Kearny High School park­ ing lot on the corner of Mesa College Drive and Linda Vista Road.

What do approximately 325 s�pervisors, 1,600 employees, 2,000 timecards and two payroll assistants have in common? A biweekly payroll in which each timecard has to be manually reviewed, signed and entered into the payroll/human resources informa­ tion system The university's timekeeping process is labor intensive, and the number of people involved in the manual processes of collect­ ing, verifying and entering the information is a significant drain on resources. Judy Sanchez, payroll manager, and Ana Dorado, payroll assistant, have been work­ ing with Larry Gardepie, budget analyst, to map oµt the internal systems of the depart­ ment. The timekeeping process, the newest project assigned to a redesign team, has the potential to positively affect a large section of the work force. Employees from around campus will be added to this project team over the next few months. The first anniversary of USD's process redesign efforts was marked in October by implementation of the first phase of the telephone resale project. The project allows the university to better access telephone billing information, improve collection and deposits of student phone payments, and recharge departments in a more efficient manner. Additional phases of this project will streamline the internal work order and trouble ticket procedures, and review how students sign up for phone service. The team reviewing the inventory and control processes for curated collections will invite vendors to demonstrate inventory

Alcala View

Vol. 14, Issue 4

Editor:

t IS) Universit y of c£,an Die 8 o

Jill Wagner Contributing Editors:

Michael Haskins Trisha Ratledge Production and Design: Judy Williamson Alcala View is published monthly (except January) by the publications and human resources offices. The newsletter is distributed to all USD employees.

Office of Publications Maher Hall 274

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